African palm-swift

Birds of Namibia

Introduction: African palm-swifts (Cypsiurus parvus)
inhabit semi-dry savannahs with scattered palms and in towns with native and
alien fan palms. Roosts on palm frond near nest, huddling together in the winter
months. Skims water during flight to drink.

Description:Cypsiurus is the Greek word for
'swallow-tailed' and parvis is the Latin word for small. These birds are
also slender, a dull brown colour with very, long, deeply forked tails. They are
associated with palm trees, hence the name.

Breeding: A shallow cup of feathers and plant matter is
built by both sexes. Just 1 or 2 eggs are laid between September and March with
an incubation period of around 22 days. Nestlings fall prey to spotted
eagle-owls, pied crow, African black swift and Bradfield's swift.